Thursday 30 January 2014

snowflakes and sentiments !!

 
stamps: wishing you from stampin up!, Christmas icons stamp set 36 from lili of the valley
inks: archival ink pad(jet black), tim holtz distress ink pad (tumbled glass, broken china& faded jeans)
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" card blank
 
I cut a mat out of digi card and stamped the snowflakes,(following the sketch) using different tone of blues. I stamped the sentiment and cut it out, then mat and layered it onto some more card. I inked the mat of the sentiment and my card blank in the darkest shade of blue. I then glued all my layers together. I added the matching sentiment from the stamp set on the inside to complete my card. I think this is a simple and effective card that could easily be made in batches ready for Christmas.  
 

 
 

 
 
Mx

Wednesday 29 January 2014

watercolour wishes ...


stamps: summer afternoon (hostess), blooming with kindness, language of friendship all from stampin' up!
inks: archival ink pad (sepia), tim holtz distress ink pad (brushed corduroy)
cardstock: kraft 4x6 card blank plus extra, cream cardstock

I cut a mat of cream cardstock, and stamped it all over with flowers (from the language of friendship set). I then added shading to the centre of the flowers, using the distress ink and a bit of water on a blending mat with a paint brush. I finally edged the background mat with distress ink before sticking down to my kraft card blank. I marked out and cut my topper to look like a polaroid, making sure the sentiment and chosen image fit in the appropriate  places. once cut, I stamped my sentiment (blooming with kindness set). I then stamped the focal image (summer afternoon set) on to a square of cream card and added shading as before,(very much like watercolour) to add depth to the picture. I layered these pieces together then glued them onto the card blank to finish.


 
Mx

Monday 27 January 2014

over the threshold !!


stamps: over the threshold, folk flowers from lili of the valley, a word for you from stampin up!
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, tim holtz ink pad (brushed corduroy, antique linen), promarkers
cardstock: craftworkcards digi cardstock, 6x6 card blank
extras: circles framlits (657551) dies & big shot from sizzix, pink ribbon, adhesive pearls
 
I started by inking the edge of my card blank using brown. I cut a piece of digi card to mat on top and inked the edge using cream, then stamped the cardstock all over with a swirl design, using a cream ink to make a subtle background paper. I added the thin pink ribbon in the centre, criss- crossing over each other, then add a bow at one end. I stamped my focal image on to digi cardstock and die cut it using my big shot. I coloured the image using promarkers keeping the palette very soft and neutral, with a highlight of pink for the flowers and heart confetti to match the ribbon. I added a bit of ink to the edge of the circle topper to help it stand out, then glued it to the card using foam pads. for the final touch I added adhesive pearls to the corners.  


inside

for the inside, I cut a piece of card to create a matt as an insert. I edged it with brown ink, then stamped it all over with the swirl stamps, as I had done for the background on the front of the card. the final step was to add the stamped sentiment.
 
 



Mx

Sunday 26 January 2014

pretty florals ...


stamps: baby blossoms (two step stampin') & petite pairs from stampin' up!
inks: archival ink pad (coffee, olive, rose madder, vermillion)
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6 card blank
extras: scallop oval & large oval punches from stampin up! also a stampin up! stamp-a-ma-jig (if you have one you will know what I mean, if not all you need to know is that it is the simplest thing in the world but makes life so much easier, especially when doing two step stamping like the background of this card)

I inked my card blank in brown and matted a piece of white card on top. I cut out my banner shape in some white card, ready to be stamped with the background. I created the background using the baby blossom set I have from stampin up! (of course you could use pattern papers or any other stamps you like, I just made my life hard by doing two step stamping... this means I had to line up and stamp the base colour, a highlight and the foliage for each flower separately.) I then matted my banner onto a larger one I had inked brown. I added the finishing touch of a sentiment, which I stamped on white and cut out using an oval punch, then layered this onto a scalloped oval punch which I again had inked brown to co-ordinate. 
 
 
Mx

Thursday 23 January 2014

welcome baby boy ...


stamps: baby with bunny from lili of the valley, a word for you from stampin up!
inks: memento ink pad (tuxedo black), tim holtz ink pad (brushed corduroy), promarkers
crdstock: bear necessities papers from lili of the valley ( nitwit collect), craftworkcards digi cardstock, 5x5" card blank

I mat and layered two of the papers and glued them on to my card blank. I stamped my baby boy image onto digi card stock and added a sentiment just below. I only coloured the flesh with promarkers, paper piecing the clothes and bunny  to complete the image. I matted this layer on to a piece of card I had inked brown, to coordinate with the accent in the paper. I cut some little banners for added interest (and to follow the sketch) and glued them to the back of the topper before adding to the card. if you swap the papers, this design could easily work for a girl, or be kept neutral for a surprise arrival !!



 
 
Mx
 
 

Tuesday 21 January 2014

pretty in pink...

 
stamps: new hat from lili of the valley, express yourself (hostess) from stampin up!
inks: memento ink pad (tuxedo black), tim holtz distress ink pads (spun sugar), promarkers
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" card blank
extras: small dot embossing folder and big shot from sizzix

I embossed a strip of card using a embossing folder in the big shot, I then highlighted the dots with pink distress ink. I stamped my image and coloured it using promarkers, before adding the stamped sentiment below. I then cut this out and layered it onto another piece of card, which I had inked pink. I glued my layers together to complete the card.

 
 
 
Mx

Thursday 16 January 2014

simply mini ...

 
stamps: papermania nostalgia classic cars clear stamps
inks: archival (jet black) ink pad
cardstock: black and kraft cardstock, kraft 6x4" card blank
I cut a mat in kraft cardstock and layered it on to some black card. I then stamped my chosen car design (the Austin mini cooper) onto the kraft square, using black ink. I stamped the sentiment on to a piece of kraft and cut in to a banner shape (leaving space for an embellishment to be added later) , then I matted this layer on to black cardstock.  i glued all the layers together, then finished by adding a button. you can also change the stamped image for anything the man in your life may like such as football, fishing, DIY, etc.
 
 
Mx

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Love hearts ...


stamps: valentine love, soft swirls from stampin up!
inks: archival (jet black, aquamarine) ink pads, tim holtz worn lipstick, barn door) ink pads plus the worn lipstick distress pen
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" card blank
dies: heart set #2 & big shot from sizzix

I stamped the large swirl background in black, then inked the entire surface pink, adding emphasis to the hearts using the distress pens from tim holtz. I placed a sentiment stamped in black onto a banner I cut out, which I inked in blue along with the card blank. I die cut some hearts, colouring them red with the distress ink to fade the colour up for a more dynamic effect. finally I layered the pieces onto the card, taking inspiration for the layout from the seize the sketch challenge. I think the bold swirls and colours really make a statement for valentines day!!

 
 
Mx

Monday 13 January 2014

sympathy silhouettes


stamps: love & sympathy, just believe from stampin up!
inks: archival ( jet black & watering can) ink pad, tim holtz (tumbled glass, broken china & black soot) ink pads
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" card blank

I masked off the bottom of my card blank (I used washi tape but you can use low tack masking). I stamped the larger foliage design in black, followed by the smaller foliage design in grey ink to complete a panel across the card. I then inked the card using distress and a blending tool, leaving the washi tape in place for a crisp edge to the panel. I started with the lightest colour, building up and adding darker shades along the masking lines until I achieved the desired look. I then added my sentiment by stamping it onto digi card and layering onto a simple mat I coloured black.
 
 
Mx

Sunday 12 January 2014

mr snowman...

 
stamps: mr snowman from lili of the snowman, more merry messages from stampin up!
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" card blank
 
I cut a simple mat and coloured the edge using a promarker for a perfect colour match. I stamped the snowman image on to a smaller layer, then coloured it in with promarkers. I added a sentiment to finish off, then glued the layers onto a card blank. I added a touch of sparkle along the snow line and smudged it my finger to soften the bottom edge. I think you need glitter to give it that frosty feel at Christmas, but otherwise I kept the design very clean and simple to show of the stamped image.



 
 
Mx

Wednesday 8 January 2014

floral fun!!

 
stamps: positively chevron, flower shop, express yourself(hostess) from stampin up!
inks:archival ink pads(jet black, magenta hue, venetian orange, aqua marine) ,tim holtz distress ink pad (dried marigold)
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 6x6" card blank
extras: adhesive gems, washi tape, pansy punch from stampin up!
 
I coloured the card blank pink and stamped the large chevron background on to a mat using yellow ink. I created 3 flowers in my chosen colours by stamping and punching them out. the sentiment was stamped and cut it into a banner shape. I glued my layers into position, then added pieces of blue washi tape to accent the top and bottom of the card and tie in the colour scheme. the final touches were adhesive gems for a bit of sparkle on the centre of each flower.
 
 
 
Mx

just in time...

 
stamps: forever stamps time of your life from hunkydory
inks: tim holtz (antique linen, brushed corduroy, walnut stain) ink pads
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock (printed sentiment), 5x5" card blank
punch: 1 3/4" circle punch from stampin up!
 
I printed my sentiment in a brown colour onto digi cardstock, then cut out my mats and layers. I kept the top layer (with the sentiment on) and the bottom layer (the card blank) white, and on the centre layer I made my background. I stamped it first with the cogs then added colour and texture using distress inks. I punched out my circles from the front panel to reveal the cogs and finally glued the layers together.

 
Mx

Monday 6 January 2014

simple bookmark...

 
stamps: little mermaid 1 from lili of the valley
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers, tim holtz distress (tumbled glass) ink pad
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, bazzill cardstock
 
I have made a simple bookmark using the lili of the valley mermaid image as the main focal point. I started by stamping the image once on to some digi cardstock then cutting out my bookmark shape using a basic trimmer, I then coloured the background using distress ink and blending foam/tool. I stamped the image again on to another piece of digi card, this time I coloured the mermaid in my chosen colours then cut her and the seahorse out and glued the pieces down on top of the other image. I then mat and layered the panel on to some blue bazzill bling, then turned it over and covered the back in a plain cardstock of the same colour, to add strength and neatness. You could add a panel of white to the back with a sentiment or a name to the front to personalise it, if it is for a gift.
 

 
Mx

Saturday 4 January 2014

hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil....

 
stamps: JOFY 17 from paperartsy
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers, tim holtz distress (tumbled glass) ink pad
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x6" white card blank
dies: oval framelit & bigshot from sizzix
 
a parcel arrived today and it was craft so i just had to use it... i ordered these with a sale discount and even got two FREE stamps so i am a happy bunny!! on to the card ....

i cut all my mats and layers out then inked the background card blank using tumbled glass as well as the top aperture layer, i left the middle layer white. i stamped the sentiment on to the front layer of my card by only inking a portion of my stamp, i then die-cut it using an oval framelit from sizzix. i cut an extra piece of white card to fit behind the oval, which i stamped the snowmen on, i then coloured them using promarkers. finally i glued the layers together. i think the simple card design really makes the most of this fun image!!

 
Mx

butterfly wishes


stamps: papillon potpourri, express yourself (hostess) from stampin up!
inks: archival ink pads (jet black, aquamarine, magenta hue, venetian orange)
punches: elegant butterfly from stampin up!
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock , 4x6" white card blank
extras: small adhesive gems

i coloured the base card with the pink ink pad using a piece of cut n dry foam, then mat and layered with some white card which I stamped with the sentiment at the bottom. I stamped and punched three butterflies using my chosen colours of ink pads. i glued only the centre of the butterflies to add dimension as the wings lift from the card but can be posted flat. Finally i added gems to the centre for a touch of feminine sparkle. I think this makes a nice girly birthday card, but you could add a different sentiment for other occasions like thankyou or mothers day card.
 
Mx

Friday 3 January 2014

happy new year!!

 
stamps: teeny tiny sentiments from stampin up!, happy birthday from technique Tuesday
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, black 4x6" card black, miri card (I used holographic)
dies: typeset alphabet bigz (stampin up! & sizzix) & the big shot from sizzix
 
this card takes a bit longer to make than it might seem as the background is created using a mini confetti stamp. I stamped it all over the background, leaving a slight halo around the sentiment, then coloured each piece of confetti using several promarkers. I die-cut the numbers in miri card, then in black so I could layer them up to give a shadow effect. I think this, plus their large size, gives them maxium impact on the card. 

 
Mx